Alaska Airlines is inviting  school-age children from throughout the state to enter its “Paint the Plane”  contest to create artwork to adorn an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-400 jet in  honor of the state’s 50th anniversary in 2009.

Students in grades K-12 from public, private and home schools in the state of Alaska can submit designs  that best capture the theme of “The Spirit of Alaska.”  A final selection panel comprised of artists and other dignitaries from throughout Alaska will select the winning design, which will be  revealed Jan. 3, 2009, the date commemorating Alaska ’s  statehood.

The student with the winning  design, as well as a finalist from each grade level, will receive a trip to  Disneyland Resort.  In all, 13 trips for four to Disneyland Resort —  including round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations and tickets to the park —  will be awarded.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the  state’s anniversary in such a dramatic way,” said Bill MacKay, Alaska Airlines’  senior vice president for the state of Alaska.  “We are incredibly proud that  our aircraft bear the state’s name, and this plane will no doubt have a very  special place in our hearts.”

A dedicated web site, www.PaintThePlane.com provides contest  rules, instructions and entry forms required to participate.  Entry forms  also will be available in community newspapers throughout the state, at schools  and at community libraries starting on Sunday, Aug.  24.

Contact: Caroline Boren or  Marianne Lindsey with Alaska Airlines (206)  392-5101

Hello everyone,

We’ve recently discovered some problems with our email subscription service. Due to these problems, we’re moving to a new service provider – Google FeedBurner. You will receive an email within the next week from confirmations@emailenfuego.net containing a verification link – please click that link when you receive the email to continue getting updates from Steller.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at webmaster@stellerschool712.org.

Thanks,
Tonei Glavinic
Steller Community Web Strategies Team

“Anchorage Youth Court (AYC) is an organized and effective juvenile justice system.  It provides Anchorage Youth with opportunities for personal growth and an understanding of our legal system.”  (From the AYC website.)  Some Steller students who already participate in AYC and could answer your questions are Bobby G, Kristina V, Kari P, and Frances B.

Anyone who would like to be a member of AYC is invited to register for their 2008 fall classes starting Monday. Registration is at the AYC office Monday through Friday from noon until 5pm, August 25 to September 22, or until the classes are full.  Classes will be held on different nights at Anchorage and Eagle River high schools starting the week of September 22. For additional information, call 274-5986 or email info@anchorageyouthcourt.org.

Steller has a dance next week, should my 7th grader go?  What are Steller dances like?  What’s with all these groups—Advisory Group, Parent Group, Advisory Board, Op Group—and what do they do?  How does this new advisory-group-block schedule work?

New Steller Parents, do you have questions? Returning Steller Parents, do you have issues?  Come join us at Parent Group and we’ll work out the solutions together.  Our first meeting is Wednesday, September 17 at 5:30 in Ken’s room.  We have a few brief items of business to dispatch:  approval of the budget; a vote on a proposal for monthly staff luncheons; a slate of parent nominees for Ad Board.  After that we’ll open the floor for questions and discussion.

Come check out the Steller Parent Group—we’ll strive to keep it both interesting and informative,

Rochelle Wilhelm & Barbara Wohlforth
Co-chairs Steller Parent Group

Do you know youth, ages 13-18, interested in leadership, violence prevention and/or the arts?

If so, please let them know about the Lead On Youth Leadership Conference to be held at Alyeska September 24-26th. This mini-summit, co-sponsored by the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) and Allstate will bring together Alaskan youth leaders, community partners and nationally known speakers to improve leadership skills and support healthy communities.

This event will feature youth-led workshops and presentations about how youth and community partners are using theatre, art and media in the state to promote peace and equality. This gathering is also part of the CDC-funded national demonstration project DELTA (Domestic Violence Education Leadership Through Alliances).

See attached flyer and scholarship application.

Contact Rhonda for more information. Rhonda.Johnson@uaa.alaska.edu

Click here to download the new Advisory Group schedule.

Welcome Back!

Welcome to Steller Secondary School!  By this time your sons and daughters have already filled you in on some of the most important details of life at Steller — whether the other kids are friendly, what the teachers are like, the importance of lunchtime, and whether Steller seems easier or harder that the school they last attended.  Now that everyone has had some time to settle in, we hope all the students, new and returning, feel as if they are home.

We are pleased to have you, the parents/guardians, as partners during this educational year.  As the year progresses, and as you become either more informed or more puzzled, we encourage you to call, email, or stop by the school to talk to those who might be able to help.  If your questions deal with in-class events, please make arrangements, by phone or email, to speak with the teacher.

One of our goals at Steller is to make it easier for parents/guardians to also feel at home — like the students themselves.  To that end, we send the school newsletters to your home (or computer) throughout the school year, providing you with information about events and activities. We schedule Parent Meetings and All-Community Meetings to share information with you,  and many other opportunities to volunteer.  In fact, we encourage you to volunteer!  Steller is one school where parents truly are an integral part of everyday life.

You will also want to look at your son’s/daughter’s copy of the Steller Student Handbook after they have received them.  It does a good job of explaining a typical year at our school.  By taking the time to read it, you will have a better idea of what to expect.

Steller offers complete academic programs with the flexibility to meet your student’s individual needs; however, the school cannot do it all.  Your interest, your involvement, your support, and your parental guidance have never been more important than right now and during the next few years.

We are glad to have you with us this year, and we want to assure you that we will do our best to help your child experience academic, social, and emotional growth.  With your help and cooperation, this will be an excellent school year!

Harlod Green